A review by triscuit807
Calico Bush by Rachel Field

5.0

This an historical novel set in 1743 Maine. Marguerit Ledoux is a 12-13 yr old bound-out girl, ie. an indentured servant to be freed at 18, who was "bought" from a poor house by the Sargent family to help them as they move from Marblehead to a homestead in the forests of Maine. It's a largish family, Dolly and Joel and his brother Ira, their children Caleb (13-14), the twins Becky and Susan (6), Patty (4), Jacob (3), and the baby Debbie. She has a dress and a pair of shoes, and mementos of her uncle and grandmother both of whom died on arrival in the New World. Being French and Catholic is an additional hurdle for her to overcome. Written in 1931 this is a very even-handed account of colonial life over the course of one year. It touches on British colonization and conflict with the French and Indians. I read this for my Newbery challenge and for my 2017 Reading Challenge "a title that doesn't contain the letter 'e'" (Read 52).